REVIEWS

Sue Campbell

Good meets evil in this huge tale of love and loyalty between three sisters in an age which might be considered more innocent, but is actually filled with chilling suspense and terrifying and ultimately world-changing events. Pure, hair-raising menace is balanced by the simple, yet tenacious way the girls approach immediate problems. A matter-of-fact narrative gives horrific moments a power which is almost shocking. This breath-taking and true account of three innocent young girls on a journey towards adulthood is wonderful but not a light read. It makes you look at older people with fresh eyes and it will live in your memory after you have turned the final page. 10/10

Pauline Chelmsford

I understand that this is the third book in a trilogy written by Heather Morris. I hadn’t read the other two but I don’t think that was an issue. The book is based on a true story of three sisters who were sent to Auschwitz/Birkenau during the Second World War. Initially I felt that there was a lack of depth to the writing, particularly when describing the sisters’ time in the camps and I also would have preferred fewer and less frequent switches between locations. But as I read on I became engrossed in the story and overall I enjoyed it. A lot has been written previously about this period but here the strong theme of family adds a particular dimension to the book and I found the telling of the sisters’ post-war experiences particularly interesting. Although the subject matter is very dark and at times horrific, don’t be put off. It is an interesting, powerful and ultimately heart -warming story.

Linda Cantwell

A moving account of wartime atrocities and man’s appalling inhumanity to man. The horror is alleviated by small and unexpected acts of kindness which partly restore one’s faith in human nature, and this aspect of the story illustrates that some of those committing the dreadful acts are doing so under fear and duress and are, in a way, as much victims as the prisoners themselves. I found the book rather too long, with a lot of repetition. The fact that the girls promised to stay together and look after each other is obviously a vital ingredient of the story, but perhaps it did not need such frequent iteration. The book is distressing in parts so I can’t say it was an enjoyable read, but it was also very informative. It was interesting to learn more about the camps and the personalities of the prisoners and, later, the opportunities offered to begin a new life in Israel. It was a delight to end with a large gathering of the extended Meller family – a finale/scenario that seemed most unlikely earlier in the book.

Paul Byron

This book made me happy, sad, angry and intrigued in equal measure. It is the story of three remarkable Jewish women who, as young girls, are taken by the Nazis and end up in Auschwitz. It tells of their hardship, loss, eventual survival and a new life in their ‘promised land’ of Israel. I would not normally choose a book on this subject; having visited Auschwitz and seen the piles of suitcases, spectacles and other belongings taken from inmates on arrival that are displayed there – I had an idea of what the book would bring – but having read it I’m glad I did. What took me by surprise was the way Heather Morris is able to covey both the visceral squalor, horror and casual everyday brutality of camp life at the same time as a wealth of human kindness and small acts of humanity and friendship with equal clarity. Three Sisters is a book about the past and for the future – it shows how, out of despair, redemption can be found; a pertinent lesson for today.

Julie Camp

From the first few pages of the prologue I was fully engaged with the family and wanting to read more. I gained an insight into the girls and the family which I wanted to explore further and as the pages turned I wasn’t disappointed. The writing evoked a lot of emotion very early on and it continues to build as we get to know more about the relationship between the sisters and the values instilled at a very early age. I particularly enjoyed the way we are led back and forth between the lives of the girls and have a sense of the family as a whole because we see events through different eyes. The story is a journey of hope, sadness and joy and a feeling of fulfilment. I felt as though I was living through the events with the girls. The descriptive writing about how the girls were treated immersed me into their world, which is a sign of true brilliance. Towards the end of the journey I felt a sense of relief that finally everything the girls went through was for a purpose, to make the bond even stronger. I thoroughly recommend this book, it is a true story skilfully retold, you can’t help but become immersed the world of Three Sisters.

Jenny Smith

I am very much intrigued/enjoying reading this book. The fact that such events took place in our lifetime is horrifying and it is unbelievable that there are people who continue to challenge the veracity of the Holocaust. I applaud the hard work that went into telling this story.

Linda Williams

Having read the two other novels about the Holocaust by Heather Morris (The Tattooist of Auschwitz and Cilka’s Journey), I was thrilled when I was asked by Viking to review this novel by the same author. A true story, this is a truly fascinating account of the Holocaust, seen from the point of view of three very close sisters, living in Slovakia at the outbreak of the 2nd World War. The very vivid descriptions of the horrors of life in the Auschwitz-Birkenau camps are both saddening and terrifying as the girls fight to survive and to stay together at all costs. By giving an account of the Holocaust through this very personal story, the author has made the atrocities suffered very real for the reader. However, whilst the sisters’ story is harrowing and tragic, it is also hopeful and uplifting as we follow their journey. This is a book that I hope people will continue to read for many years to come.